Solomon Islands
This Melanesian country is best known for its many islands and beaches... and this
natural landscape (pictured) is why most people go. Don't miss out on the unique
Melanesian culture and foods though! Begin Your Journey!

Vanuatu
Picturesque serenity is a good way to describe Vanuatu, but the culture offers much
more, including the inspiration for bungee jumping, which remains a rite of passage
for young men. Explore Vanuatu!

Federated States of Micronesia
This diverse country stretches for thousands of miles and has the diversity to prove
it, including the people from Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Yap among others.
Begin Your Journey!

Samoa
Among the most famous of the South Pacific's many countries, Samoa sits in the
heart of Polynesia and has a culture to match. Begin Your Journey!

Culture & Identity of Samoa

Introduction

Samoa's way of life is steeped in traditions and culture
as family comes above all else and the people have a very strong tie to their communities;
each individual is a member of the community and is expected to contribute to the
community's success. Despite this sense of obligation, there is no pressure
to overwork or gain large sums of money to help the community as each individual's
role in the community is, more or less, one of membership as socialization is important
as is one's willingness to share and work with other people (although for Samoans
abroad monetary contributions to their family and community are common).

Samoa is fairly densely populated, but only a small percentage
of the people actually live in cities (although most of the foreigners living in
Samoa live in the cities). Most of the people that do live in cities often move
there to make money for their families and communities in more rural areas and for
many of these people the move to the city is temporary as they often return to their
village later.

Village and city life does differ in work and lifestyle, but there are also many
similarities across these areas. Many Samoan families wake early and begin their
day with a prayer then everyone will prepare for their work day or school. School
tends to go until about 2:00 pm and work times vary based on what an individual
does, but tends to go until the early evening and if a long lunch break was taken
it may go even later.

Evenings are often filled with collecting food for the next day, socializing, or
playing sports with friends. Most days the people just take their time as they stop
by a family member's or neighbor's house only to socialize. The evening
meal is generally shared with the family then most people relax and socialize some
more until as late as midnight. In some villages there are actually curfews, but
they tend to be fairly late.

On most weekends, holidays, and free time the Samoans like
to spend time with family, this is especially true when they have a few free days
in a row as city dwellers return to their villages. Weekends are also a good time
to clean the house and collect food from gardens and farms. This is how most Samoans
spend their free time if they're not socializing. Many Samoans are also regular
church goers on Sunday. This day is also the day when most Samoans have umu,
which is a large community feast, but it is considered a day of rest and no sports
or other work is done in most villages.

Identity

Nearly everyone in Samoa is ethnically Samoan and they identify
as such. The definition of being "Samoan" can almost wholly be defined
with the term fa'asamoa (or "fa'a Samoa," meaning
"Samoan Way"), which is somewhat difficult to define. This term refers
to the most important values in Samoan culture, which is more important to the Samoan
identity than just being ethnically Samoan (although this factor also contributes
to being "Samoan"). Fa'asamoa dictates that the most important
aspects of Samoan culture are family, language, genealogy, the church, the political
structure (but no particular political belief or party), and community among others.
This is a strict standard of how the Samoans believe a person should live his or
her life based on family, community, and selflessness.

Despite the seemingly narrow definition of fa'asamoa and therefore
the narrow definition of what it means to be "Samoan," there is great
flexibility in the terms above and any ethnic Samoan is included in this definition
so long as they maintain their historic roots, language, and ties to
Samoa itself. In this way, the chieftain system, church, and even language
may vary from Samoans in Samoa to Samoans abroad, but all are considered to be one
people as long as those ties and identity are maintained (although some believe
if a person doesn't speak Samoan he or she is not included in the identity).